St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-05
higher. Below zero.
THE LEGISLATURE.

There has never been a legislature which
did not get Il good deal of ''cussing" as
the reward OF its laborS, and deserved
all it got. But there has probably never
been legislature in Minnesota which
evoked more public profanity than the one
which adjourned AT an early hour yesterday
morning. In taking a retrospect of its
work we find so little to commend and so
much TO condemn that we wonder what 1t
was called into existence for. 1t was the
first attempt OF the Republican party III this
state to elect a reform legislature, and 1t has
made such a miserable failure of it there
will probably be no further attempts made
in that direction by the Republicans in this
state. 1t turned out just as the GLOBE
predicted it would be-a case of the devil
turning saint when he was sick and devil a
saint was he when he got well. When the
Republican leaders saw that the people
were growing tired OF the long abuse of
power by the Republican party and were
disposed to find relief for themselves by
turning the whole state government over to
the Democrats, then the bosses professed
10 be in penitent state of mind
and made all sorts OF promises that the
abuses complained of should be corrected.
They made pathetic appeal to the people
to give the Republican party chance to
reform itself. The appeal was granted, the
opportunity for self-reformation was given
TO the party, and what has been the result?
Simply an aggrayation of former abuses,
and the exhibition of more defiant and
dictatorial spirit on the part of the bosses
than ever. If there is one measure passed
b. this so called reform Republican legisla-
ture which affords an iota of relief to the
oppressed farmers of the state we have
failed to observe it. All the laws relating
to railway freights and the handling of
grain which were enacted were the bills
that were favored by the railroad managers
and wheat rings. The measures which the
farmers demanded were ruthleSSly showed
aside and were promptly squelched every
time they got chance to appear before
the legislature. 1t was an anti-farmer leg
islature. as much so as if the cor
preparations had elected it, And the
cities Jared bnt little better. The legis-
lature neglected its important business to
60 out OF the way to legislate for the towns
and cities on local matters which pertained
exclusively to municipal management. The
fixing of license fees and the patrol limits
bill are illustrations of the meddlesome dis
position of this legislature. Plenty of time
was squandered in legislating on matters
that the general public was not interested
i'll, and which the legislature had no bust
ness meddling with. But there was no
time devoted to the more important subjects
looking to a reduction of taxation, OF to
giving the people a fair representation in
the state legislature. The only wonder is
that body capable of so much mischief
didn't do more. especially as it betrayed a
disposition to do evil, and that continually.
What was done was bad enough, in all
conscience sake, and the only reason that
worse results were not achieved was that
the majority lacked the brainy element to
carry into effect all that it had mind to
do. There were good men in the legisla-
ture, men who had an honest. patriotic
purpose in view all the time, but they were
so much in the minority they didn't get a
chance to make an impression on the legis-
lation of the session. The next time the
people attempt to elect reform legislature
they will be more careful in the selection
of refOrmerS